China’s Spring Festival Travel Rush Begins, Projecting 9 Billion Trips
Beijing, The Gulf Observer: China began its annual Spring Festival travel rush, or “chunyun,” on Tuesday, marking the first such event since the Spring Festival was recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage last December. The 40-day travel season, which precedes the Lunar New Year on February 10, will conclude on February 22.
This year’s chunyun is expected to facilitate an unprecedented nine billion passenger trips, with rail and air travel set to hit record highs. Officials estimate that 7.2 billion road trips will be made, alongside over 510 million rail journeys and 90 million civil aviation trips. Railways alone will manage an average of 12.75 million daily trips, representing a 5.5 percent increase compared to last year.
The Spring Festival is a time of family reunions and cultural celebrations, prompting hundreds of millions of people to return to their hometowns during this period. The massive migration underscores the enduring importance of this centuries-old tradition in Chinese society.
Authorities have prepared extensively to ensure the smooth operation of transport networks and maintain safety amid the high travel volumes. Enhanced measures include increased train frequencies, expanded flight schedules, and improved road infrastructure to accommodate the surge.
The recognition of the Spring Festival as a global cultural treasure has added new significance to this year’s travel season, symbolizing both the preservation and global appreciation of China’s rich heritage.
